First 2 Days with Google TV

Google TV: 
Even though I, like many others, don't really get what Google TV is, I caved and bought the Logitech Revue with Google TV when it dropped to $89.99 on eBay, by way of Tiger Direct.  It came in the mail on Friday, 2 days ago.

It took a while to setup, requiring a SPDIF cable since the RCN Motorola DCX3400 senses when there are more than one downstream HDMI devices and disables the picture.  The SPDIF cable allows you to use the HDMI cable from the cable box to the Logitech box and out to the TV.  The audio is carried from the Logitech to the av receiver, cutting out one of the HDMI devices. Luckily, I had one of these cables laying around but for those of you that don't, it could be a costly add on.

The setup process alerted me to the need for the SPDIF but didn't give details.  Details were found here:
http://www.googletvforum.org/forum/logitech-revue/407-what-motorola-dvrs-work-revue.html

From there, the rest of the setup was quite easy.  Just follow the onscreen instructions.  Have your TV and AV receiver model numbers on hand.

Usage and Functions:
It's basically what you assume it would be: Web TV redux. There's a keyboard with a mouse pad, buttons to control TV volume and of course a search button.  Once setup, it controls all of your devices, including DVR functions, guide functions, menu options and everything a universal remote can do.

The built in apps are pretty standard: Netflix, Pandora, NBA Game Time, CNBC Real Time, Gallery, Google Chrome, and Twitter.  There are others for Logitech HD and a Logitech Media Player but there pretty standard and nothing to speak of.

The "What's On" Feature is kind of cool.  It scans across the cable channels and let's you know what shows are playing in a particular category.  For example, if you have it show all comedy movies, it will tell you that Who Framed Roger Rabbit is playing on Toon HD and that there is 1:54 left.

Techie Cool Feature:
Controlling all the devices with your Android phone.  This feature is almost completely useless in that you have the normal remote controls, your universal remote control as well as the Logitech keyboard which is one big remote control but being able to turn on all the devices and control them all from your phone is pretty cool.  Haven't found a good use for this yet but the cool factor is worth showing off to your tech geek friends and gadget loving dad.  Everybody else seems to think it's just weird.

Best Use Case:
Probably the greatest use for the Logitech Revue with Google TV is the picture in picture for fantasy football.  You can start up Google Chrome, put the pre-game shows on "Live TV" and then enable picture in picture to setup your line-ups.

Misses:
Engadget does a great series called "What would you change about [fill in the blank]".  Knowing the data that Google has access to and the ability to take non-structured data, I would think they could add a presentation layer over live TV to include additional information, a la Pop Up TV.  This could be powered by IMDB since this site is already connected to what's playing on what channel and has all the trivia captured.

The option to auto sense a URL displayed on the screen and then to provide the ability to go that site right away would be nice.  Last but not least to be able to split screen in more ways than one.  There are times when I would like to have side by side as well as top/bottom screens.  The software should be able to do this with ease.

Another feature that would be cool to have but might not have a real purpose is to be able to draw on live tv with the mouse.  It should be fairly simple to have a Telestrator app.

Unexplored:
I have not yet explored all of the Spotlight channels.  This includes the Dailymotion, CNN, CNet, Classical TV, Clicker, Chow, Al Jazeera, Crackle, Redux, HBO Go, MeeGenius, tour factory (real estate search), we draw, YouTube Leanback, adult swim, amazon instant video, baeble music, C-span, cartoon network, epix, flixster, fraboom, grab games, huffington post, ign, kqed, lp33 music television, mspot movies, the fashion station, new york times, nhl, oreilly, party central, pbs kids, poker fun, revision 3 internet television, sec digital network, sidereel, tbs, the karoake channel, the onion, this week in, tnt, tune in, uinterview, usa today, vevo, vimeo, and college sports.

There are so many channels in here it will take some time to explore but unless the content is different than what I can find online via a computer, laptop or tablet, I'm not expecting much.


Unexpected Bonus Feature:
The Logitech Revue seems to automatically balance the volume levels for commercials!  My wife and I both noticed that commercials don't seem so loud now that it's plugged in.  Our control's mute button is getting a much deserved break.  Advertisers take note: I will actually sit to watch and listen to a commercial when it's not blaring.  I don't have the same flight response as I normally do.  Turn your commercial's volume down!

Summary:
For $90 it's a cool gadget.  It would make a great gift for someone who doesn't have a laptop since it's essentially a simplified laptop with a wireless keyboard that uses your TV as a monitor.  If the new OS and apps give it more functionality, then it might be very cool and useful.  For now though, it replicates something that I already have: a laptop that sits near me while I watch TV.

Chrome is a fantastic browser but it has one major flaw: a setting to open tabs in background tabs.  This extension fixes that problem:
https://chrome.google.com/extensions/detail/bblhflcbilbefagmeoanbdiofmmnehda?hl=en


Originally found here:
http://www.google.com/support/forum/p/Chrome/thread?tid=4923f1a6f588ab73&hl=en

Thanks to the author of the extension, Samir.

Unofficial Observances

This is a great list of days to "celebrate" with your loved ones.  My favorite is International Bacon Day, commonly celebrated on the Saturday before Labor Day.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Unofficial_observances

Enjoy!